THE TEAM  

Instructors

Meet our talented staff! They are ready to take your dance training to the next level. 

Nancy Gerardi

Director

My Passion Dance Studio was founded October 2nd, 2010  by Nancy Gerardi and her daughter Jessica Maillet  Nancy graduated in Argentina with a background in finance and when she moved to the U. S. she specialized in marketing, sales, and obtained various business licenses. After numerous successful ventures,

Kasi Howes

Instructor

Kasi began dancing when she was three years old when she discovered her love for the arts. She trained and competed through out high school and continued her dance education by minoring in Dance at Fairleigh Dickinson University where she received a BA in Theatre Arts. Kasi discovered her love for teaching when she began choreographing musicals for children such as “Annie” and “The Little Mermaid”. Kasi loves theatre and is working towards becoming a professional performer.

Nick Lundquist

Instructor

Nick started his dance training at an early age in California and was awarded a full scholarship to Pacific Northwest Ballet. As a member of a competition dance team, he received numerous awards regionally and nationally in solos and group routines. Nick has performed as a dancer and acrobat on many cruises for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and has entertained audiences around the world with his energetic dance style. His professional accomplishments also include dancing in the Rose Parade, performing in ad Sketchers Industrial, and was a member of the ensemble for the National Tour of Moving Out choreographed by Twyla Tharp. Nick has been offered leading roles to perform for Tokyo Disney, Disneyland, and Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas. He has trained with choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, and Terri Best to name a few.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Please feel free to ask us questions at any time.

Our number is 201-866-5600.

Jessica Maillet

Artistic Director / Choreographer 

Jessica began dancing at the age of three. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, flamenco, pointe, hip hop and ballroom dancing. She has taught dance for over 10 years and graduated in 2009 from Hofstra University. She has participated in numerous performances and competitions including Star Power, Starbound, Access Broadway, Dance Educators of America She is certified in Acro level 1-6 through the Acrobatic Arts program .

Jay Martin

Instructor 

Mr. Jay began his training as a gymnast and segued into dance at the age of twelve. He hasn’t stopped dancing since then and has won numerous national and regional titles and 1st Overall awards. 

Mary Ann  Hodnett

Instructor

Mary Ann Krupka was born in Taipei, Taiwan and lived in the Philippines before moving to Rapid City, SD, where she studied at Prima School of Dancing.  She graduated cum laude from Oklahoma City University with a degree in Dance Management.

After obtaining her degree, she returned to Colorado to perform with the NBA Denver Nuggets Dance Team. Then, continued her dance training in New York City at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and the Isadora Duncan School of Dance.  While living in New York City for three years she had the opportunity to dance for *NSYNC (Women’s World Cup Soccer at Giants Stadium Half-Time performance), Daphna Dove (as choreographer) and Radiohead (MTV Music Awards) as well as perform for various performances at prominent places such as, Lincoln Center, Roseland Ballroom, Limelight and Radio City Music Hall. She served on the Black Hills Dance Theatre Board of Directors for seven years.  She has taught at over 25 different schools, day cares, dance studios and private schools in the Bergen County, NJ area in kiddie hip hop, ballet, creative movement, jazz, lyrical, tap and her signature curriculum, yoga hoop dance. 

Ashley Papa

Instructor

Ashley Papa graduated from Montclair State University in May 2018 with a BA in Sociology with a minor in Social Work and a Child Advocate Certificate. She is now continuing her education at Montclair State University working towards her Masters in Social Work. 

 I began my dancing career at Ziegler Dance Centre studying tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre and pointe. During my dance career, not only was I a competitive dancer since age three, I received numerous special awards, titles and scholarships. I also auditioned for and danced with the Moscow Ballet for two years and at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. As a teacher, I hope to inspire and pass on my love of dance to my students as they grow from children to amazing young adults.